They walked into the coffee shop and it was clear they were a Big Brother, Little Brother match. They looked nothing alike, yet they acted like brothers. From across the room, one could tell they were making jokes and easily carrying on a conversation about whatever was around them. It’s hard not to smile when you see a pair like Ryan and Sammy. Ryan is confident and outgoing and Sammy is a quiet and reserved, but they meet in the middle naturally when they’re together.

We sat down with Ryan and Sammy to hear about their match and get tips for anyone considering becoming a Big.

Can you tell us about yourselves?

Ryan: I’m a combination between outgoing and pretty techy and innovative. I’m a perpetual rule breaker, and I enjoy music and being creative. Currently, I work for Cintas in outside sales.

(Sammy seemed a little shy, so Ryan answered for him). And my buddy Sammy here likes being outside, playing basketball, and we’ve both got a newfound love of badminton.

How long have you guys been matched?

Sammy: Since October or September.

What things do you guys do together?

Ryan: We’ve done a whole bunch of stuff. Laser tag, board game café, driving around, soccer, basketball, corn maize, bowling, mini golf, Oil Kings game, badminton. I’m new to Edmonton so getting out with Sammy I get to see more of Edmonton than I would otherwise. Sammy wants to try swimming, going to the lake this summer, and visiting a sweat lodge.

Sammy: And I’m going to teach Ryan how to snowboard!

Why did you want to be a Big Brother?

Ryan: When I lived in Kelowna I was matched for a couple years. I wanted to take the time and do something better than sitting around and watching TV. I knew a young girl who was removed from her family and she wasn’t allowed to communicate with them. But she was allowed to write to my girlfriend and I. It was during that period that I realized how important it was for kids to have more than just their parents in their lives. Plus, I wanted the excuse to act like a kid.

Why did you want a Big Brother?

Sammy: I wanted to do something after school. Ryan does a good job keeping me busy.

Why do you think so many boys want Big Brothers?

Sammy: It’s fun because you get to do stuff with your Big Brother and go anywhere you want if it’s okay with them. And you can try new experiences. I did some stuff with Ryan that I didn’t do before – like laser tag and badminton. He taught me how to play real badminton.

Ryan: I also taught you how a wedding worked. We spent a whole hour talking about weddings and watching proposal videos.

How would you describe your relationship?

Sammy: We’re bros. Ryan is funny. Ryan, remember in Costco, when you were supposed to sit on one of those exercise machines and you almost fell backwards?

Ryan: (laughing) Oh yeah. It was one of those ones where you lean back and bring your legs up, so I laid in it and I went flying. Sammy just ran away. He was too embarrassed to be around me. But being serious, my favourite part about hanging out with Sammy is his urge to learn; he’s always asking questions. Plus he’s got a great attitude about things. Like his basketball tryouts. He told me: “I didn’t make the team but I got 6th place!” He’s optimistic about everything.

What is the biggest barrier to guys becoming Big Brothers?

Ryan: I think people worry a lot about commitment. It’s a matter of guys changing their mindset. You can work being a Big Brother into your lifestyle rather than needing to completely change your lifestyle. Just give it a shot!

Fifth year Golden Bear Hockey player Brett Ferguson just became a volunteer with Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters as an In School Mentor to mentor Owen, a 4th grade student. Matched just over a month ago, the pair have quickly became best of friends. Watch the video below to hear about how Brett makes time for a Little, and how you can get involved.

(Huge thanks to the U of A Golden Bears for creating this lovely video)

We still need caring men to volunteer! Help us reach 150 new Big Brothers before April 9th, by volunteering today!

Scott Sherstobitoff become a Big Brother to bolster his application to a university education program — but then he met a boy who reminded him of himself at the same age.

“The first time we met was in the Big Brothers offices. I remember Jake was a lot shorter back then — probably about a foot shorter, at least. And he was very shy and very docile, very quiet, and he barely spoke the whole time.

“So mostly I had to talk to his mother. But I remember thinking, ‘He seems like a really nice kid,’ and I thought “This is going to work out really well.’ Jake just turned out to be a gem.”

That’s Jake Scriven, now 17 years old. He’s an only child, so his mom suggested he try the program to have a role model — Sherstobitoff laughs as Jake says this — and make friends.

Wow. Just Wow. Our community is simply amazing! We found 100 men to become volunteers to boys on our waiting list in less than 60 days. We are over the moon and grateful for everyone who helped us reach this goal!

Now it’s time to surpass it.

With over 700 boys still on our waiting list, we’ve decided to continue the campaign right to the very end and get as many caring men as possible. If we can continue getting just one new male volunteer application a day for the rest of the campaign we’ll have 144 brand new Big Brothers. Please help us out by continuing to tell your friends about our programs, our kids, and the need in the community.

One day last Fall, Jennie Newton, an Enrollment Facilitator with BGCBigs, was looking through Little Brothers, trying to find a match for a Big Brother who had just applied. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was fate, when she came across Zane’s file. With his 18th birthday just around the corner, Zane was about to age out of BGCBigs programs. He lived in foster care, was in a wheelchair, and had been waiting for a Big Brother for 6 years. Moved by the resiliency of this young man, Jennie made it her mission to find him a match before he turned 18.

Around the same time, Ryan had just got back to Canada from a three week mission to Bolivia. He left on the trip shortly after he lost contact with his Little Brother. After years of wanting to volunteer but not having the time, Ryan was incredibly disappointed when his first match fizzled out so quickly.

Who knows what would have happened if Jennie hadn’t stumbled across Zane’s file that day, or if Ryan had been re-matched immediately instead of traveling to Bolivia. What we do know, is that Zane and Ryan, in less than 6 months, have developed an incredible, lasting friendship.

“When they called to tell me about Zane and his story to see if I would be interested, my heart broke,” Ryan explains. He couldn’t understand how such an awesome young man had been waiting for a Big for so long. “I picked my heart back up, put it back together, and said ‘of course’.”

Zane tells us that he was thrilled to get the phone call. “I signed up so long ago I guess I forgot about it until they called. But they told me he was a Christian, liked going to church, and had been praying for another Little Brother. I was pretty stoked. It turned out we both got our wish.”

With fairly low expectations for the match, Zane says that he really just wanted someone to hang out with. “I wanted someone who would be a friend, mentor, literally a brother. Someone to talk to and trust. Someone to push me to go out and do things when I’m feeling lazy. Ryan is awesome for all of that.”

While we don’t want to get your hopes up, or make you feel like we’re bribing you to sign up as a volunteer, things like this really do happen!

The other day the Edmonton Eskimos surprised our Kinsmen Club with four of their players and the Grey Cup. They took questions from the kids and then stuck around to play pool, Foosball, and video games with our teens.

Our staff and volunteers also go to get mini footballs signed, chat with the players, and get their pictures taken with the Grey Cup and Offensive Lineman Justin Sorensen.

That’s just one of the perks to volunteering as a mentor with our kids. We also get lots of tickets to events and invitations to special opportunities that we share with our volunteers, kids and families. So you really never know what could happen.

Apply today and find out! Plus, you’ll be making a huge difference in the life of the child or children you get matched with.